• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.361-382
• /
• 2011

This paper presents the results of an investigation on shear strengthening of RC beams externally reinforced with CFRP composite. A total of six full-scale beams of four CFRP strengthened and two unstrengthened were tested in the absence of internal stirrups in the shear span. The strengthening configurations contained two styles: discrete uniformly spaced strips and customized wide strips over B-regions. The composite systems provided an increase in ultimate strength as compared to the unstrengthened beams. Among the three layouts that had the same area of CFRP, the highest contribution was provided by the customized layout that targeted the B-regions. A comparative study of the experimental results with published empirical equations was conducted in order to evaluate the assumed effective strains. The empirical equations were found to be unconservative. Nonlinear finite element (NLFE) models were developed for the beams. The models agreed with test results that targeting the B-region was more effective than distributing the same CFRP area in a discrete strip style over shear spans. Moreover, the numerical models predicted the contribution of different configurations better than the empirical equations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.449-461
• /
• 2014

The use of low-ductility welded wire fabric (WWF) as a main tensile reinforcement in concrete slabs compromises the ductility of concrete structures. Lower ductility in concrete structures can lead to brittle and catastrophic failure of the structures. This paper presents the experimental study carried out on eight simply supported one-way slabs to study the structural behavior of concrete slabs reinforced with low-ductility WWF and steel fibers. The different types of steel fibers used were crimped fiber, hooked-end fiber and twincone fiber. The experimental results show that the ductility behavior of the slab specimens with low-ductility reinforcement was significantly improved with the inclusion of $40kg/m^3$ of twincone fiber. Distribution of cracks was prominent in the slabs with twincone fiber, which also indicates the better distribution of internal forces in these slabs. However, the slab reinforced only with low-ductility reinforcement failed catastrophically with a single minor crack and without appreciable deflection.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.167-180
• /
• 2013

Hydrodynamic characteristics of a bluff cylinder oscillating along transverse direction in steady flow were experimentally investigated at Reynolds number of $2{\times}10^5$. The effects of non-dimensional frequency, oscillating amplitude and Reynolds number on drag force, lift force and phase angle are studied. Vortex shedding mechanics is applied to explain the experimental results. The results show that explicit similarities exist for hydrodynamic characteristics of an oscillating cylinder in high and low Reynolds number within subcritical regime. Consequently, it is reasonable to utilize the test data at low Reynolds number to predict vortex induced vibration of risers in real sea state when the Reynolds numbers are in the same regime.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.61 no.2
• /
• pp.267-274
• /
• 2017

In this study was investigated of possibility using the recorded micro tremor data on ground level as ambient vibration input excitation data for investigation and application Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) on the bench-scale earthquake simulator (The Quanser Shake Table) for model steel structures. As known OMA methods (such as EFDD, SSI and so on) are supposed to deal with the ambient responses. For this purpose, analytical and experimental modal analysis of a model steel structure for dynamic characteristics was evaluated. 3D Finite element model of the building was evaluated for the model steel structure based on the design drawing. Ambient excitation was provided by shake table from the recorded micro tremor ambient vibration data on ground level. Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition is used for the output only modal identification. From this study, best correlation is found between mode shapes. Natural frequencies and analytical frequencies in average (only) 2.8% are differences.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.64 no.1
• /
• pp.93-107
• /
• 2017

The article presents the vibration and acoustic responses of un-baffled doubly curved laminated composite panel structure under the excitation of a harmonic point load. The structural responses are obtained using a simulation model via ANSYS including the effect various geometries (cylindrical, elliptical, spherical and hyperboloid). Initially, the model has been established by solving adequate number of available examples to show the convergence and comparison behaviour of the natural frequencies. Further, the acoustic responses are obtained using an indirect boundary element approach for the coupled fluid-structure analysis in LMS Virtual.lab by importing the natural frequency values. Subsequently, the values for the sound power level are computed using the present numerical model and compared with that of the available published results and in-house experimentally obtained data. Further, the acoustic responses (mean-square velocity, radiation efficiency and sound power level) of the doubly curved layered structures are evaluated using the current simulation model via several numerical experimentations for different structural parameters and corresponding discussions are provided in detail.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.62 no.5
• /
• pp.651-661
• /
• 2017

This paper presents an experimental study of bond-slip behavior of reinforced lightweight aggregate concrete (LC) and normal weight concrete (NC) with embedded steel bar. Tests were conducted on tension-pull specimens that had cross-sectional dimension with a reinforcing bar embedded in the center section. The experimental variables include concrete strength (20, 40, and 60 MPa) and coarse aggregate type (normal-weight aggregate and reservoir sludge lightweight aggregate). The test results show that as concrete compressive strength increased, the magnitudes of the slip of the LC specimens were greater than those of the NC specimens. Moreover, the bond strength and stiffness approaches zero at the loaded end, or close to the central anchored point of the specimen. In addition, the proposed bond stress-slip equation can effectively estimate the behavior of bond stress and steel bar slipping.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.68 no.3
• /
• pp.277-287
• /
• 2018

This paper presents the experimental study of nine pieces of reinforced concrete (RC) short columns. RC short columns were tested with cyclic loading with displacement control under the influence of constant axial load with load index of 0.2. Three columns within the tested nine columns are reference columns which have the details of the reinforcement given in the modern regulations and six of them are 150 mm and 100 mm externally collared columns. In addition to the parameter of the collar spacing, aspect ratio (as=2-1.5-1) is also considered as a parameter. The data obtained from experimental results have shown that externally collar contributes significantly to increasing the shear resistance of RC short columns and limiting the shear dominant behavior. It has been observed that the effectiveness of the externally collar increases with the decrease of the aspect ratio.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1995 no.11
• /
• pp.151-153
• /
• 1995

Residual strain of artery is studied. There has been experimental evidence that residual strain exists in artery. When ring of artery is longitudinally cut, it is opened. Since strain has been determined without considering residual strain, the existence of residual strain is meaningful in mechanics of arterial wall. Intimal strain concentration is considered to be reduced with both account of residual strain and strain determined by loading. However, it is lack of experimental research. Therefore, this study experimentally attempts to quantify the effect of residual strain on circumferential strain which is determined under the assumption of zero strain with zero pressure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.591-614
• /
• 2002

This paper presents experimental and numerical analyses of the thermomechanical behaviour that takes place in SAE1020 mild steel cylindrical specimens during the conventional tensile test. A set of experiments has been carried out in order to obtain the stress-strain curve and the diameter evolution at the neck which allow, in turn, to derive the elastic and hardening parameters characterizing the material response. Temperature evolutions have also been measured for a high strain rate situation. Moreover, a finite element large strain thermoelastoplasticity-based formulation is proposed and used to simulate the deformation process during the whole test. Some important aspects of this formulation are discussed. Finally, the results provided by the simulation are experimentally validated.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.269-284
• /
• 1994

The analysis and tests of thin-walled channel frames including nonlinear flexible or semi-rigid connection behaviour is presented. The semi-rigid connection behaviour is modelled using a mathematical approximation of the connection flexibility-moment relationship. Local instability such as local buckling and torsional flexural buckling of the member are included in the analysis. The full response of the frame, up to the collapse load, can be predicted. Experimental investigation was carried out on a series of simple double storey symmetrical frames with the purpose of verifying the accuracy and validity of the analysis. Agreement between the theoretical and experimental results is acceptable. The investigation also shows that connection flexibility and local instability such as local buckling and torsional flexural buckling can affect the behaviour and strength of thin-walled frames significantly. The results can also provide further insight into the advanced study of practical structures where interaction between flexible connections and phenomenon associated with thin-walled members are present.